And the Best City Ever to Live In is….

But I thought this blog was about living in Australia? Well yes, it is. And for those of you who have stuck with this post past the boring bits, that is the bits that are nothing to do with Australia, your reward is here.

And the third and best city in the world to live in is…….. BIG drum roll….. get ready for rapturous applause….

MELBOURNE!

Melbourne

Then in fifth – Perth…..

Perth

Then in joint ninth – Sydney….

Sydney

Then we have Adelaide in 11th place…..

Adelaide

And then Brisbane is 16th…..

Brisbane

That’s ALL of Australia’s top five cities, the ONLY cities we have with populations more than a million, in the top 16 most “liveable” cities in the world. I think that’s pretty good going. We do have other cities, of course, but all with 300,000 people or less. Small cities.

So I’m going to call this result a clean sweep for Australia.

Who decided all this? It was the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2009 Liveability Survey in Britain which assessed 140 cities based on:

Stability

Health care

Education

Infrastructure

Culture and environment

I have not been to Perth or Adelaide, yet, but I have been to the other three. For what it is worth, I would certainly not disagree with Melbourne being the best city in Australia. The place has bags of character and a really good feel about it. If I were not living here in Brisbane, which I love, Melbourne would be a top contender for me. Sydney I didn’t much care for. Too busy, too big, too much of what I was used to in England.

Who else is in the list? How did other countries fare? Who cares? Grab your togs, hat and shades… and emigrate to Australia.

i have some question. plz if you can give answer. i love Australia. but i want to come by thief road. that mean invalid. will i get job opportunity in australia.how can i do enter in Australia. because i have no enough money to enter Australia. so i have take decision. i will enter invalid. plz how can i solve my problem. or how can i get work permit in Australia. plz brother would you help me.at time i am very problem live in my country for me.for political.

Hi Bob, My husband & I live in Auckland & like living here. I too think that Sydney & Melbourne are the BEST Australian cities – having done most of Australia. Because we have flexible jobs we travel quite a bit now…. We LOVE New York & we’re looking to buy an apartment there, but we love coming home…..

Well I have lived in the Vancouver/Squamish area for the past 10 years. We are waiting for our visa for Australia and will be moving to Brisbane! As a Brit that moved to NZ, then Canada, I feel I in a good position to comment. I can’t understand how Vancouver gets in the top ranks with the rain and generally boring place unless you love the outdoors…while getting wet! And the housing costs are insane compared to what you can get in Brisbane. Looking forward to it for sure! Love the website and candid style.

Well we got 2 offers for our place within 24hrs so I bet my mid Oct we will be there. Can’t wait even after reading your recent blogs on spiders…we have bears so I reckon we are ready…kinda!
Goodbye insane costs of living and hellooooo a better warmer way of life!

I’m not really sure what they base this on. I’m from South Africa originally, now living in Canada. I’m shocked every time when I go back to SA about how expensive stuff has became. It used to be great doing shopping in SA with my Canadian Dollars. Now? I’m mostly breaking even. Yet Johannesburg in South Africa is way lower on the list of the last website above than Canadian cities. So how they get their info, who knows.

What do you think, do you find that a lot of people there complain a lot about how expensive things are, and how hard it is to get by? Or does the salaries earned tie in well with the cost of living? Maybe they just look at the prices of things, without looking at whether salaries are in proportion to those prices. For example, earning $1000 in Oz could mean something totally different than earning $1000 in Canada, even though the exchange rate is pretty close. Perhaps you would earn 30% more for the same job in Oz than what you would in Canada (which might balance out the higher prices for stuff in Oz)?

I’m a still a student, but I have plans to move to Australia. I’m in Turkey, but originaly I’m a Maldivian. Australia is like one of my favourite place and after I’ve visited here you made me like it more; so much. I read all of your 20 reasons just now. Amazing! Well would you please suggest me a good city to work as a Naval Architect, I mean the city where all the ships are built mainly?

I couldn’t tell you offhand, but I would suggest looking at my page about Getting a Job or a Sponsorship and use the 3 links to Australia’s most popular online employment agencies to search for what you do and see which city comes up with the most opportunities. Good luck!

Great advice here. Looking to move to Cairns or Tasmania in September. Have two job offers, both good but the one in Tas pays higher I’m guessing because it’s harder to get people there? I could save more money in Tassie and go hiking but I’ve heard that its not great for younger people (29 yrs and solo) and cold that time of year. I do like the beach but am not a big water person. But I would like to experience the Reef and be semi warm. Any opinions? Alternatively I could just head straight to one of the bigger cities – Melb or Sydney and find work. Cheers!

I think it’s fine in this thread Vicky, it’s as good as any. It’s a tough decision, I’ve been to Tasmania and I really loved it there, but it is a lot cooler than most of the rest of Australia, whereas on the other hand, Cairns is very hot.

But your choice isn’t just hot versus cold, Tasmania is very much like the Lake District in my view, and there are only really two big towns, Hobart and Launceston. Cairns, I’m told, is very lively and has the distinct feel of a holiday town.

My guess is you would have a lot more fun in Cairns, but you would certainly save much more money in Tasmania. It’s a tough choice, but a nice one 🙂

Hi Vicky, if you like the heat and humidity then you’ll love Cairns. Personally I cannot stand the cold weather, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are simply too cold in winter and yes Brisbane is too cold for me in winter. The warm weather all year round in Cairns, the tropical surroundings, the reef, the beach, the islands, the mountains, the outback, the rainforest, and the city has a very cosmopolitan feel to it make it you’ll never run out of things to do in this city. Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane cannot compete with Cairns natural surroundings. Cairns and its surroundings would have to be the most beautiful part of Australia.

Cairns is nice but you can hardly compare it to large citis like Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane, Roy! I disagree that Sydney cannot compete with gorgeous natural surroundings .. in fact, Sydney has, right on its doorstep, three world heritage listed areas: the spectacular Blue Mountains, the pristine wilderness and virgin rainforests of the Barrington Tops National Park and the white-sanded beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters of Jervis Bay. On top of all of that, Sydney has the most lively, breathtakingly beautiful harbour in the world and it is, without a doubt, one of the world’s most cosmopolitan, multicultural cities with world class restaurants, cafes, sporting and entertainment venues. I’ve been to Cairns and, you are right, it is a lovely little town and we had a wonderful time there … but it is not a big international city like Sydney or Melbourne. I know I am biaised but that’s why I live HERE because Sydney is the best city in the world (IMHO) …. this is why MOST people who come to Australia want to live in either Sydney or Melbourne which, of course, has the impact of driving our housing prices upwards. Demand exceeds supply = expensive. However, you get what you pay for and Sydney is SO worth it!

Great summary of Vancouver, thanks for that. You’ve given some good reasons to why it trumps other Canadian cities. Have you seen the film “Bowling for Columbine”? That does a pretty good job of comparing Canada to the USA when it comes to guns and safety.

You’ve given us a good roundup of some of our Australian cities too, I think I agree with you on everything there as well.

Sydney a bit rushed, Brisbane like a holiday camp and Melbourne in between. And yes, I thought the people of Melbourne were extremely friendly too, as they were in Adelaide as well.

– Only Canadian city that doesn’t freeze over. (hence reason why alot of homeless ppl migrate to that city from other parts of Canada)
– Modern newer city compared to others.
– Has a reputation of a city where you can go skiiing and then windsurfing etc all in one day, since closest peak is about 30 mins drive from city.
– Stunning natural beauty. Imagine snow covered peaks surrounding city in the distance. I was quite amazed when I openned my friends back door to see snow covered mountains nearby..
– Close by duty free shopping in nearby Seattle (Day trip)

Definitely ppl here in Melbourne are more friendly, and Melbourne is much more interesting.. Vancouver seemed a little plain on the surface.

Apparently being so close to USA Vancouver is a major distribution hub for drugs in Canada.. Last time I was there, read the paper about shoot outs between mexican gangs and from time to time condos blowing up from meth lab activity.

Actually you have to admit, if you had a choice between living in USA or living in Canada where USA is a short drive away I would pick Canada. Heard ppl in USA lock their doors but ppl in Canada don’t, plus you probably feel more unsafe when its a right for a American home owner to own a gun. Thats just crazy..

I’ve been to Brisbane before, felt totally safe.. Actually feels more like a holiday relaxed city compared to Sydney/Melbourne with summer all year round. In Sydney was a little worried when seeing young gangs hanging outside maccas but its a bigger city and not too bad but I do notice ppl getting on with their day more there.. ie. in more of a rush.

I think Melbourne has a good balance between big city and all round not bad feeling to it and still friendly ppl, just public transport on the trains is getting worse and property prices getting more expensivem but at least you have a choice of a real house not like Vancouver appartments mainly..

Good to hear from someone else who’s actually been there and seen it. That’s two votes in so far, and two thumbs down for Vancouver. As I’ve said, I’ve never been, but I don’t think it would be my cup of tea. I don’t like cold.

People seem to rave about Canada as a great place to live and Vancouver always seems to represent the best of Canada. Strange that it’s just a stones throw from the USA. Is that the attraction? It’s not America, it’s Canada, but you can still get to America quickly?

Or am I talking rubbish again?

Funny thing, when I was new to Brisbane, I never once felt unsafe here. Sure, I locked my doors at night, but who wouldn’t. Nowadays, I’m not so bothered.

I’ve lived in Melbourne for my whole life 33 years… Went to Vancouver to visit friends for 2 weeks.. Kind of ran out of things to do after the 1st week.. I think within that 2 week period it didn’t rain for 3 days.. The clouds get trapped in by the mountains for days/weeks. Theres only a certain amount of indoor activities that can be done.

Melbourne has alot more things to do, even when your stuck indoors..

Vancouver is naturally beautiful especially being surrounded by mountains but you really have to be an outdoors person to benefit from it. At night time I didnt really feel that safe, seems like the homeless elements are concentrated into a single no-go zone street. Had a honeless guy open a 7/11 door for me and expecting tips from me.. Also giving I was a strange in town I probably had the unsafe feeling more so..

I appreciate Melbournes weather more now.. Dont like the cold 0 to 10 degrees days too much and it was constant cold cold wind..

To live in Vancouver, think u have to like a little chilly weather, rugging up on cold days when its raining inside, like living in Condos (appartments) proper houses would be toooo expensive there, be an outdoors person (skiing, rollar blading, cycling, etc).

Job opportunities are much better in Melbourne, here in Australia employers give you a go in Vancouver they keep on doing reference checking and making sure they got the right right person from day one..

I’ll have to take your word for it about Vancouver, I’ve never been. But from what you say, it doesn’t sound too appealing. I left England to get away from horrific weather.

I have to say, I’ve been to Sydney a couple of times and didn’t really think much of it. Much preferred Melbourne. But then I think that’s mainly because I don’t like busy cities, but I do like the large town feel of Brisbane. But then I suppose I’m biased too 🙂

Hi Bob, have to disagree with Vancouver, BC as being the best city. Lived there for awhile. The weather is horrific, it never stops raining, the harbour is “dead” and absolutely NO comparison to Sydney harbour where there is so much activity. The only good thing about Vancouver is the backdrop of the Coastal Mountains). There is a lot of homelessness and serious social issues. Canada is an economic basket case and the quality of life is poor (compared to Australia and NZ). I might be biased but I truly believe that Sydney and Melbourne are the absolute best cities in Australia as they are the only two truly international cities in this country. Small cities like Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane are like large country towns. Queensland and NT are too hot (for most people) within cyclonic, flooding zones and without a nice change of seasons (that make southern NSW, Victoria and Tasmania so appealing).

I'm BobinOz and I moved to Australia in November 2007 after living in England for a very long time. Why did I move and what's it like here? All this and more answered right here at Bobinoz. Click here to read more on my about me page.